Better marketing ‘will raise appeal of ghazals’

Umbayee speaks in an inter-action yesterday as his co-artistes Roshan Harris, P J Berney, Radhakrishnan and others look on

By Ramesh MathewBetter marketing can contribute to raising the profile and increasing the popularity of ghazals among expatriates especially those in the Gulf region, according to noted south Indian ghazal artiste Umbayee.The singer was speaking yesterday on the eve of his Sham-e-Ghazal (evening of ghazals). The programme where he is pairing with Gayathri, one of the most talented ghazal and playback singers, is scheduled for a 7.30 start at Gulf Cinema.He said though a lot still needed to be done to make ghazal shows more appealing, there was increasing interest among Indian expats in this region to host ghazal concerts which is reason for optimism that there will be a revival. But he lamented the absence of any significant effort to counter piracy which is destroying music all over, in particular ghazals.“I feel really honoured whenever music buffs speak about the impact my singing has had in attracting them to the ghazals,” he said. Again, I consider it as a great honour to receive invitations to host concerts at temples, he said.While recalling the hard work that helped him emerge as a frontline ghazal singer in southern India, he said he is more indebted to philanthropists in his home area of West Kochi. “I am feel great pride when I recall that day in December 1992 soon after the demolition of Babri Masjid when the legendary K J Yesudas asked for my presence along with many community activists at a mass meeting in Kochi,” he said.At the briefing, the singer said he was influenced by situations and people in and around those places where he lived before emerging as a ghazal artiste. “In Mumbai and its suburbs, and in Kochi, each of those who I moved with, whether big or small had music in them and it was those associations that influenced me in taking ghazal as a big challenge in life,” he said. Umbayee also remembered the owner of a hotel in Kochi where he worked who he said was one of the greatest influences on him.“Doha, like other cities in the GCC has always welcomed me and I was fortunate to stage some of my most memorable and well attended shows here over the last one decade,” he said.Umbayee also recalled the support extended to him by a person no less than Gnanpeeth Award winner O N V Kurup in popularising ghazals among the Keralites with his touching lyrics.  Film music composer P J Berney (of Berney –Ignatius fame, guitar) Radhakrishnan (Harmonium), Roshan Harris (Tabla) and Umbayee’s son Sameer Ibrahim (tabla) are accompanying the singer.Expatriate forum Thirumuttam is organising the event, the main sponsors of which are Best Western Doha Seef Hotel and Bollywood Restaurant.Waleed Nabil Ali, Corporate Director of Best Western Doha Seef Hotel also spoke.